Male Mallard
by Elizabeth Winter
Title
Male Mallard
Artist
Elizabeth Winter
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The Mallard Duck is also known as the Wild Duck
Mallard Ducks are the most abundant and widespread of all waterfowl. Every year millions are harvested by hunters with little effect on their numbers.
Mallard Ducks are a noisy species. The male has a nasal call, and a high-pitched whistle. The female has a deeper quack stereotypically associated with ducks
Mallard Ducks usually feed by dabbling for plant food or grazing; there are reports of it eating frogs.
When seeking out a suitable nesting site, the female Mallard’s preferences are areas that are well concealed and inaccessible to ground predators. This can include nesting sites in urban areas such as roof gardens, enclosed courtyards, and window ledge flower boxes more than one story up.
The nesting period can be very stressful for the female Mallard since she lays more than half her body weight in eggs.
The Mallard’s clutch is 8–13 eggs, which are incubated for 27–28 days to hatching.
The Mallard ducklings are fully capable of swimming as soon as they hatch.
Mallards usually form pairs in October and November, but only remain together until the female lays her eggs in early spring, at which time she is left by the male. The male joins up with other males to await the molting period which begins in June.
Uploaded
April 28th, 2016
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Viewed 474 Times - Last Visitor from Cambridge, MA on 04/25/2024 at 10:46 AM
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Comments (18)
Mary Wolf
What a great image of this lovely mallard duck, Elizabeth. He is perfectly posed so you can admire his wonderful colors and detailed feathers. L/F
Deb Halloran
Elizabeth, What a beautiful capture...the feather detail is incredible. Excellent photography....nicely done. v/f